VPA Connect

    Privacy Policy

    Last updated: 06/06/2025


    VPA Connect Pty Ltd ABN 70 681 015 243 (VPA, we, us, our) creates and operates discrete and limited payment facilities (Facilities). Each Facility is created in respect of a particular real estate agency (Agency) and is designed to enable sellers that have engaged that Agency (Sellers) to act in the sale of their property to make payments to third-party service providers for services provided in respect of the marketing of their property for sale (Suppliers). 'VPA Connect' (Platform) is operated by VPA and enables Facilities to be accessed and used.


    We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information in carrying on our business. We respect your privacy and we are committed to safeguarding and managing your personal information responsibly. We will only collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).


    This Privacy Policy contains information about how we manage personal information. We will update this Privacy Policy if there is any change in how we manage personal information. The current version of our Privacy Policy can be accessed free of charge on our website.


    What is personal information?


    'Personal information' is defined in the Privacy Act to mean information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether the information or opinion is true, and whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.


    The nature of our business and the services we provide mean that, generally, you will have to identify yourself when dealing with us. You do not have to identify yourself or provide us your personal information, but if you do not do so our interactions will be limited and we will generally not be able to provide any services to you.


    What kinds of personal information do we collect, and how do we do so?


    We collect various kinds of personal information in carrying on our business. We only collect personal information that is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, one of more of our functions or activities. The kinds of personal information we collect about you will depend on the nature of your relationship with us and the type of user you are.


    The Platform is used by Sellers, Suppliers, Agencies and Agents. If you are one of these people, then the personal information we may collect may include identification information (such as your full name, address and date of birth, and other information contained in identification documents you may provide to us in order for us to verify your identity), financial details and information (such as banking and payment details), usernames and passwords that you create in respect of your use of the Platform, records of our communications with you and of your use of the Platform, including any information provided by you in using the Platform, your personal or professional contact information, your employment information, information about a property to be sold or acquired by you, and other information of a similar nature.


    We may collect this information from you directly, such as during the account creation process, when you contact us, or through your use of the Platform. We may also collect this information your principals, representatives, or other users of the Platform to whom your use of the Platform relates (Related Users). For example, if you are a Seller then we may collect information about you from an Agency (or an Agent) you have engaged to sell a property. If you are a Supplier then we may collect information about you from an Agency (or an Agent) that has nominated you as a prospective provider of services to a Seller. If you are an Agent then we may collect information about you from the Agency you are employed or otherwise engaged by.


    We also collect information about people who are our contractors, suppliers, business partners and services providers, or who are employed by, or representatives or contractors of, such people. We collect information needed to establish, maintain, evaluate and conduct a business relationship with such people. The personal information we may collect includes some of the kinds of information described above. We may collect this information from you, or from sources you would expect us to collect your personal information, including referrers and referees, as well as publicly available sources.


    We also collect information from you when you use our website, including location information (if enabled on your device), your internet protocol address, information about the electronic devices (computers, mobile phones or tablets) you use to access our website and how you use them, including details relating to your devices, their operating systems, browsers, other installed applications and settings, and details of the ‘Wi-Fi’ network or mobile network used by your device. We use cookies on the website for analytical, technical and functional purposes, as well as to help us improve and develop the way the website works, to record or ‘remember’ visitor preferences, to record when and how a visitor has used the website (such as when a visitor has seen a page).


    We may also collect personal information from promotional and marketing activities undertaken by us or seminars or events we deliver or host.


    What kinds of personal information do we hold, and how do we do so?


    We hold all personal information we collect and all information we collect will be held securely and in accordance with the Privacy Act. We hold personal information for the same purposes for which we collect it.


    We may hold personal information in hard copy or electronically, including by using Australian-based cloud services. We have adopted and will maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the personal information held by us from unauthorised access, accidental loss and unauthorised modification. All service providers we use are required to hold personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act and to comply with appropriate information security standards.


    We cannot provide any assurance regarding the security of information transmitted to us online, including via the Platform, as the internet is inherently insecure. Information you transmit to us online is at your own risk. In the event of any loss, or unauthorised access or disclosure of your personal information that is likely to result in serious harm to you, we will investigate and notify you and the Australian Information Commissioner as soon as practicable, in accordance with the Privacy Act.


    We will only retain your personal information for as long as is reasonably necessary or prudent in the circumstances. We will take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify personal information when it is no longer to be retained by us.


    The purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information


    The purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information will depend on the nature of our relationship and may include to:


    1. (a)contact you and answer enquiries and provide information or advice about existing and new products or services;
    2. (b)
      verify your identity, including to enable us to comply with our obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 and its rules and regulations;
    3. (c)administer and operate the Platform;
    4. (d)enable you to use the Platform;
    5. (e)enable you to make or receive, or authorise the making or receipt of, payments via the Platform;
    6. (f)develop new products and features, undertake customer analysis, administer our services, and for internal operations (such as for troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, quality control, research, and statistical purposes);
    7. (g)conduct risk analysis, fraud prevention and risk management to protect our users;
    8. (h)establish and maintain a business relationship with you and to manage contractual or other arrangements between us on an ongoing basis; and
    9. (i)otherwise comply with and fulfil our legal and regulatory obligations.

    With respect to identify verification, VPA is a participant in a digital identity network, ‘ConnectID’ (or such alternate service provider), that enables individuals to request various organisations with whom they have a relationship to provide identity and attribute information about them to VPA. Any transfer of digital identity data between a relevant organisation and VPA will only be done at the request and option of the individual and with the individual’s express consent.


    Disclosure of your personal information


    The people to whom we may disclose or share your personal information will depend on the nature of our relationship and the purpose for which it was collected, and may include:


    1. (a)other users of the Platform, being Related Users;
    2. (b)our professional advisers, auditors and insurers;
    3. (c)third party payment service providers and financial institutions, such as banks, payment facilitators, facility and method providers, network operators, aggregators and processors;
    4. (d)our subcontractors and people to whom we outsource services or functions, including technology service providers (including cloud service and data storage platforms) and providers of mailing house, marketing, research, data analysing, client contact, data processing, insurance, forensic, litigation support, data room, marketing and security services;
    5. (e)people with whom we have co-promotional arrangements (such as jointly sponsored events) or third parties assisting us with events;
    6. (f)regulatory authorities, courts, tribunals, government agencies, law enforcement agencies and other third parties; and
    7. (g)people you have authorised to receive your personal information or who we are otherwise authorised or permitted by law to provide your personal information.

    Direct marketing


    We may use your personal information to send you direct marketing communications, including in respect of our products and services, as well as those offered or made available by any of our related companies, associates, or any entities in which we, our related companies or associates, have an interest. These communications may be sent in various forms, including by posted mail and email. If we use your personal information for the purpose of direct marketing, we will provide you with a simple means by which you may easily ‘opt out’ or request not to receive direct marketing from us.


    Accessing and correcting your personal information


    We will endeavour to ensure your personal information that we hold is accurate, up to date, complete, relevant and not misleading. You have a right to request access to or correction of your personal information held by us. If you feel your personal information needs to be corrected, is not accurate, complete or up to date, then please contact us using the details set out below. If you wish to access or correct any personal information we may hold about you, please contact us using the details set out below.


    How can you complain about our handling of personal information?


    If you have a complaint or any concerns about our handling of your personal information, then you may make a complaint to us using the contact details set out below.


    We will take any privacy complaint seriously and our Privacy Officer will investigate any complaint. We aim to respond to complaints in a timely and efficient manner, and our target response time is 30 days. We request that you cooperate with us during this process and provide us with relevant information we may require.


    If you are not satisfied with our response then we request you can contact us so that we may discuss your concerns and seek to address them. Alternatively, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and information on how to do so is available on their website, https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints/.


    Copies and other forms of our Privacy Policy


    You can also request a hard copy of the Privacy Policy to be sent to you free of charge. If you would like a copy of this Privacy Policy in a particular form (for example, on audio disc), then please contact us and we will accommodate any reasonable request.


    Contact us


    If you have any further questions relating to this Privacy Policy, would like to request a copy of this Privacy Policy in another form, or if you have any concerns about the way in which we have handled your personal information, then please contact our Privacy Officer: